Newly deployed Commander of the joint military force in the Niger Delta christened Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleman, has pledged to introduce new tactics to improve ongoing operations.

Suleman, who made the pledge in an interview session with newsmen in Yenagoa on Saturday, noted that the military was in the region to protect oil facilities and check criminality.

He said that some of the new strategies he introduced to strengthen the joint military operations against renewed militancy and agitations in the Niger Delta region were yielding results.

Suleman said: “In my short time of assumption of duty on November 16, 2016, I have tried to sustain and improve on the pace which has yielded some successes.

“Just a few days ago on Wednesday troops in Cross River encountered militants in a gun duel around Ikang axis and arrested one of the militants and recovered large cache of arms and ammunition.

“I must commend the efforts of my predecessor Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, and will fall back on my experiences as Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) at the Central Naval Command in Yenagoa.”

He said that Operation Delta Safe under his command would not condone unprovoked attack on the military by communities under its area of responsibility.

“The last attack on the military men on duty killing some in cold blood is regrettable and condemnable and when our men went after their killers there was public outcry.

“This a note of warning that any community that attacks our soldiers should be ready for the consequences, we shall not tolerate any community that habours criminals, we are not here to invade any community, but we are after criminals.

“Any community that habours criminals has lost its immunity, any further unprovoked attack shall be resisted with every resource at our disposal and we shall remain within our mandate,” he said.

•Photo shows an Operation Delta Safe contingent.

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